In 30 seconds
After a death, online accounts, crypto wallets, mailboxes and profiles remain. Some assets have a value and form part of the estate; others are personal data with their own rules. Without credentials and instructions, heirs may lose access and funds. It is possible to prepare in life, with a will and an orderly list.
What forms part of the estate
Heirs step into the deceased’s property relationships, so also into online accounts and financial instruments, if they exist and are in the deceased’s name. Each provider’s terms set out how the account is closed and how the balance is claimed.
Personal data and accounts
For the personal data of a deceased person, Italian law provides that the rights may be exercised by someone with an interest of their own, by someone acting to protect the data subject as an agent, or for family reasons worthy of protection. In life, however, the data subject may forbid this exercise by a written declaration.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are not held in an account but are tied to private keys or recovery phrases. If nobody knows them, the value may become unreachable. One must work out whether the funds are on an exchange platform, which has its own procedures, or in a personal wallet. Tax treatment must also be checked.
Email, social media and cloud
Email, cloud photos and social profiles hold memories and documents, sometimes contracts and invoices too. Each platform has its own rules for relatives: some allow deletion or memorialisation, others do not allow access. It is unwise to use the deceased’s passwords: this may breach the terms of use and cause problems.
How to prepare in life
You can make a list of accounts and services, without writing passwords in a document anyone can reach; name a trusted contact; use the tools many platforms offer to designate a contact; and put instructions on valuable digital assets in a will.
Assets and providers abroad
Many services are run by foreign companies, with their own terms and forum. The firm does not deal with the law or taxes of other countries.
Typical case
A situation that comes up often. A man dies suddenly. The family finds out that he kept savings on an online platform and in a crypto wallet, but nobody knows the credentials. What there was is reconstructed, providers are contacted with the required documents, and what can be recovered is assessed.
Frequently asked questions
Can heirs access the deceased’s account?
It depends on the law, the provider’s terms and any instructions left in life.
Are cryptocurrencies inherited?
They form part of the estate if attributable to the deceased, but access depends on the keys.
Can I forbid access to my data after death?
The law provides for a written declaration to that effect.
What to bring to the consultation
List of accounts, platforms and devices; death certificate and documents proving heir status; any will; communications with providers; statements or receipts for crypto purchases; information on devices used by the deceased.
Read more on this site (in Italian)
Studio Legale Fiorentino, Naples (P.zza Giovanni Bovio 22 and Via Monte di Dio 14), Rome, Bari; consultations also remote. The first meeting is held in Italian only, with no interpreter, and can take place by video call.
Book a consultationMessage on WhatsAppCall 347 5264190
Note: content prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tools; it is not legal advice.